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Dang STAR testing ( for those who dont know its a annual test that the State of California gives us student to compair schools and it is manditory.) I was really bumbed when i found out i couldnt go because i had testing on Friday GRRRRRRRRRRRR. well can you tell us about your experince with some of the teachers and demos?? well cya!

Hi all!
Thanks so much, espcially to Stan, to all those who were at the Expo. You made me and all of students feel incredibly welcome. Training was fabulous and all of the folks from the different styles were so great with each other!

In twenty five years of Aikido this was absolutely one of the best things I have ever done. Inspiring and humbling at the same time. It would take mulitple lifetimes to master the knwoledge that was in that space all at the same time!

All I know is that I want to move as fast as Ushiro Sensei, then I can die happy.

Those of you who missed it, there will be at least one video for sale of the event.

Please, please, please keep us posted about the video.

Sounds like everyone had a blast. I hope to be able to make it someday.

Bronson

"A pacifist is not really a pacifist if he is unable to make a choice between violence and non-violence. A true pacifist is able to kill or maim in the blink of an eye, but at the moment of impending destruction of the enemy he chooses non-violence."

Wonderful stuff. Particularly enjoyed the classes of Sensei Kondo and Sensei Ushiru. Learned a ton of stuff (I think).
Thanks to Stanley Pranin and team, and thanks to all the Senseis and all the participants. Judging by the enthusiasm that everyone had I think this Aikido stuff could catch on.
My only regret was that I was cleaned out at the blackjack tables. Perhaps we could have the next Expo in Salt Lake City?

Originally posted by George S. Ledyard All I know is that I want to move as fast as Ushiro Sensei, then I can die happy.

KAMI : Now, you got me curious, Ledyard Sama!
What can you tell us about Ushiro Sensei? What's his karate like? How do you think it may be useful for aikido training? what did he taught at the Aiki Expo?
From all I've read, it was a wonderful event. I wrote to Stanley Pranin giving him my congratulations. They're yours, too!
Best

"We are all teachers, and what we teach is what we need to learn, and so we teach it over and over again until we learn it".
Unknown author

KAMI : Now, you got me curious, Ledyard Sama!
What can you tell us about Ushiro Sensei? What's his karate like? How do you think it may be useful for aikido training? what did he taught at the Aiki Expo?
From all I've read, it was a wonderful event. I wrote to Stanley Pranin giving him my congratulations. They're yours, too!
Best

Aside from the fact that the style is primarily a style of karate and is therefore primarliy devoted to impact techniques the principles are right out of the Aikido book. His whole emphasis was on kokyu. He demonstrated the difference between most people's striking and doing it with kokyu. One of my students is a 4th Dan in Karate and Ushiro Sensei used him to demonstrate quite a lot, also one of Imaizumi Sensei's students from NYC who is also a karateka. There was no comparison between what they did and what Ushiro Sensei was doing with his kokyu.

Where his teaching applied directly to Aikido was in his irimi training. His entry was designed to preclude any possibility of additional attack. In Aikido we call this katsu hayabi, instant victory. This man had it down. Most of the time, even with the fastest attackes my student could muster, Ushiro Sensei had hit him before he could complete the first punch and was inside his guard with kuzushi. He repeatedly demonstrated the difference of a conventional response and an entry with kokyu. He would suck the attacker in with his breath, neutralize his power while entering ini and either delivering what would be a finishing combination of blows at blurring speed or a takedown (all of which we would be familair with). He emphasised that once one has the ability to enter and take the opponent's center, he can choose whether or not to destroy him. Their style has an array of techniques that are designed to spare the life of the attacker ie. locking and pinning techniques. But it wasn't the techniques butthe principles behind them that make what he does os applicable to Aikido. Once you have the entry, you can choose to do any type of technique you wish.

That said, you couldn't have found a nicer man. Absolutely a gentleman!!! I tried to hold the elevator door for him at one point and he wouldn't go in, wanted me to precede him. At last he did go in but as he went through the door he grabbed my arm and pulled me through with him. At the end of the last class with him I had Clint George Sensei translate my thanks to him and I mentioned how helpful his two students had been (one was his daughter). Instead of the usual "big Sensei" kind of acknowledgement which would usually not have included any communication of the compliment to the students, he calle them over and told them waht I had said. They then both came over to me and thanked me. He seemed genuinely proud of them. Just about the nicest man you could hope for I would say. Which in my mind made him even more inpressive as a martial artist.

Regarding Ushiro sensei, I have to echo what George wrote above. I thoroughly enjoyed his classes (I think I attended four or five of them) and the man himself was very approachable and a gentleman of the first order. I translated for him on occasion when he was approached after his classes or in the hallway by people who had questions, and he was always willing to spend time answering their questions.

For me, it was great getting back into "karate mode" while still retaining aikido-like principles. Not much different when they're both done well, I think.

I also just got home andwould like to echo what Jun and George are saying about Ushiro S. I can't begin to express how impressed I was by him, on and off the mat. Speed and power that I have never seen before. Clint George spent a couple of hours picking Ushiro S. brain at the party...then I picked his brain about Ushiro S. and about Shingu.

I had a great time this weekend, the memories of the training and stories will last a lifetime.

George-
I had a great time meeting you and training with you and your students(the husband and wife who have a 16mo. child...I'm terrible with names).

Originally posted by PeterR What I want to know is who/what was the GI Joe.

If by GI Joe you meant the guys from the Surefire Institute they were Ken Good, James Williams, and some of their students. These guys do some of the finest combat training in the country. They specialize in applying the principles from classical aikijutsu, and now the Systema, to the modern combat environment.

They have developed a system of personal self defense based on the use of the tactical flashlight as a form of distraction technique which is quite amazing. I do law enforcement training and one of my officers attended a SWAT session on building clearing in low light conditions which he said was one of the best trainings he's ever done.

These guys have trained with Angier Sensei in Yanagi Ryu and with Mr. Vasiliyev and his teacher, Mr. Ryabko in the Systema plus countless other areas of focus. These guys train people who have to trust their lives to their training. They are very serious and highly skilled. Whether or not applied technique is ones own personal interest, these folks are every bit as deserving of respect as any of the other martial artists who were doing more traditional arts such as Ellis Amdur Sensei in Araki Ryu or Angier Sensei in Yanagi Ryu. Those are straight combat arts as well, they just wear the old costumes.

Originally posted by George S. Ledyard If by GI Joe you meant the guys from the Surefire Institute .... these folks are every bit as deserving of respect as any of the other martial artists who were doing more traditional arts

Just asking for an expansion on a description given by a participant (see above). Thank you for providing it.

Originally posted by PeterR
Just asking for an expansion on a description given by a participant (see above). Thank you for providing it.

Sorry if I misunderstood you! I know that not everybody liked them. I've had some communications to that effect from some other folks. You didn't get a chance to train with the Systema guys in their workshops? That's where I had the most interaction with them although as I said I was aware of them before through my police students.

The main problem I had with the demo of the combat applications of aiki principle was twofold. 1. They came on the mat with boots on that they were wearing off the mat. I've been around too long and have a real problem with people wearing shoes, etc. on the mat where others practice. (They could have brought clean boots and put them on just off the mat.) 2. They didn't clean up after themselves. (Water which someone else had to clean up to keep the next demo from having a slippery surface and black boot marks,etc. left on the tatami.)

I just received shipment of some of those tatami and sure enough, I now have to clean black marks off MY tatami.

Adults where I come from learn that if they break it...they fix it. If they get it dirty...they clean it, etc.

I may be a bit sensitive in my traditionalism, but....

I thought their demo was great otherwise. Swaggering, testosterone filled men decked out in their combat gear and they know how to use it. I don't want them coming after me!

Originally posted by Chuck Clark The main problem I had with the demo of the combat applications of aiki principle was twofold. 1. They came on the mat with boots on that they were wearing off the mat. I've been around too long and have a real problem with people wearing shoes, etc. on the mat where others practice. (They could have brought clean boots and put them on just off the mat.) 2. They didn't clean up after themselves. (Water which someone else had to clean up to keep the next demo from having a slippery surface and black boot marks,etc. left on the tatami.)

I just received shipment of some of those tatami and sure enough, I now have to clean black marks off MY tatami.

Adults where I come from learn that if they break it...they fix it. If they get it dirty...they clean it, etc.

I may be a bit sensitive in my traditionalism, but....

I thought their demo was great otherwise. Swaggering, testosterone filled men decked out in their combat gear and they know how to use it. I don't want them coming after me!

I have to say I was too far away to see the condition of their boots. I just assumed that they were wearing shoes that they only used on a mat. That's what we do in our police training. If indeed they wore their street shoes it was entirely inappropriate! Given the backgrounds of the folks involved I am stagered that they would be so rude.

As for cleaning up... I agree that they should have but I remember how I felt just after I went off the mat after our demo and I have to say I wasn't thinking clearly for a while. I was so adrenalized and then relieved it was over I might have made that kind of mistake so I'll cut them some slack o that one. But the shoes thing shouldn't have happened, I agree.

I inwardly rolled my eyes at the flight suits and rifles (could we get any more Fruedian I wondered), but was watching with as open a mind as I could manage until I saw the dirt and pebbles getting tracked all over the mat. I even tried through the additon of a leaking camelbak. But I'm with those who say 'make a mess, clean it up'; I have spent the major part of my life in entirely male company, and have found for the most part the wannabes are good at making a mess (usually accompanied by manly words and posturing), but the real deal are the ones who know clean weapons and a clean work area are essential.

It was nice training with so many different people (and now I have a face to put to Jun's name...) Many thanks to Mr Prannin and all the great instructors he lined up for us!